Dr. Leonard F. Pleban of Hermitage passed away unexpectedly at 4:35 a.m. Friday, May 26, 2017, in St. John XXIII Home, Hermitage, where he resided less than a week after sustaining a fall.  He was 96.

Dr. Pleban was born July 23, 1920, in Carnegie, PA, a son of Frank and Nellie (Gerlach) Pleban.  He moved to Sharon in 1927 from Leechburg, PA and was a 1938 graduate of Sharon High School where he was a male cheerleader.  Dr. Pleban served as a Staff Sergeant in the medical detachment 908 Field Artillery, 83 ^rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during WW II.  He was involved in five major campaigns from Omaha Beach to the crossing of the Elbe River and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.  He also served as an interpreter at a meeting with the Russians and was the recipient of the Combat Medical Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and the American Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars. Following his honorable discharge on November 15, 1945, Dr. Pleban studied pre-med at Youngstown State University from 1946-47 and attended what is now Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio from 1948-49.  He matriculated to the Ohio College of Podiatry in Cleveland, graduating in 1950, and was vice-president of his class during his freshman and sophomore years and a member and past president of the Phi Alpha Pi fraternity.  He passed his state boards in Ohio and Pennsylvania in 1950 and in New Mexico in 1955.  Dr. Pleban began his practice in Sharon on December 7, 1950 and served the community for the past 66 years.  Until two weeks ago, he still made house calls, and was on the medical staff at St. John XXIII Home.  Faith, humor, positivity and love of his family were the cornerstone of his life.

He was a founding member of the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage, where he co-chaired the fund raising efforts to construct the church and was a daily communicant.  He was a member and past president of its Holy Name Society; a member of its Pastoral Council for 4 years; and served as a lector, Eucharistic minister and usher.  He was a member of Mercer County Cursillo movement and participated on three teams. He was also a member of Engaged Discovery Team for Villa Maria (PA) Retreat Center and the Knights of Columbus.  Active in sports, Dr. Pleban helped organize the Catholic grade school basketball league in the Shenango Valley during the early 1950's and founded and co-chaired the All Star Football game between Mercer and Trumbull Counties.  For more than fifty years he was on the medical staff at Sharon High School and attended all home basketball and football games as well as many away games.  He was honored by the Sharon School Board for 50 years as Team Doctor (pro bono) and presented a plaque by Sharon High School football coach, Jim Wildman.  He was also presented a plaque by former mayor, Robert Price, for his outstanding contributions to sports in Sharon and a plaque by St. Joseph's Booster Club for his contributions to sports in the Shenango Valley.  He received the Sharon High School football Half Helmet award in 1972 and the Collodi award for outstanding services to the Sharon High School district.  The Pleban-Conti award is given annually to an outstanding Sharon High School football player who excelled in football and academics.  He was the Sharon High School Class of 2002 commencement speaker.  Doc, as he was known by many, was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the Certificate of Honor from the Hall of Fame in 1974.  Other awards include: the Shenango Valley Jaycee's Man of the Year award in 1954 and its Key Man award in 1953; the 2000 Citizenship award from the Sharon Italian American Club; and the Aqua of Pennsylvania's "Neighborhood Hero Award."  Dr. Pleban was honored in 2006 as a Buhl Day Honoree for his community service to the Shenango Valley.  Dr. Pleban was a fifty year member of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks, Lodge # 103, Sharon; and a member of the VFW and the American Legion.  He was a 67 year member of the Professional membership in Podiatry; an honorary staff member at Sharon Regional Health System; UPMC; and St. John XXIII Home since it opened; a member and past president of the PA Northwest Podiatry Association (since 1950); the PA Podiatry Association at Camp Hill, PA, where he served as a State Director; and the American Podiatric Medical Association, Washington, DC.  Dr. Pleban participated in the 50 ^th anniversary of the Class of 1950, along with the Class of 2000, from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine where he was recognized with a certificate for 50 years of active practice.  He was also the recipient of the 2006 special recognition podiatrist award from the PA Podiatric Medical Association.  Dr. Pleban was a member, past president and state director of the Shenango Valley Jr. Chamber of Commerce; past president of the Northwest Division Podiatry Society; past president of St. Joseph Church Holy Name Society; past president of Farrell University Club; past president of the Mercer County Retreat League; committeeman and chairman of Allied Professions Division of the Shenango Valley Community Chest Drives; and chairman and committee worker for ten years for the United Fund drives.  He also helped raise funds for Notre Dame Grade School, Kennedy Catholic High School and the Orphans Home in Erie.  Dr. Pleban was a guest speaker for athletic and civic functions in Mercer, Trumbull and Mahoning Counties and addressed PTA's and various civic groups on podiatry.  He was the Toastmaster of Ceremonies for high school and civic affairs and a committee member fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Diabetes Association, cerebral palsy and the American Red Cross.  Dr. Pleban was program chairman for Big Olympic banquet at Farrell High School in the 1950's which attracted many famous athletes and had Ed Sullivan as its Toastmaster of Ceremonies.  He was associated with Tony Razzano and Bucky Woy Sports Agents as a scouting agent for professional football and basketball teams and attended four Senior Bowls in Mobile, AL.  Dr. Pleban played in an independent basketball league; the Hoyle tournament at the Buhl Club; regimental basketball in the service; and the Westinghouse basketball league and was a licensed basketball official, having worked high school, college and professional games.  Most recently, he enjoyed participating in the Senior Follies.  A true servant and a great man and doctor, Dr. Pleban will be missed and fondly remembered by many.

Surviving is his wife, the former Florence "Flo" Dick, whom he married August 9, 1942; three daughters, Patricia "Patty" Pleban Wherry and her husband Vernon, of The Villages, FL; Linda "Linny" Pleban Cervone and her husband Gary, Hermitage; and Mary Estelle "Tudi" Pleban and her fiancé Joseph Mirizio, Winter Garden, FL; and several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Pleban was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Clara Waida; and a brother, Stanley Pleban.  The family would like to thank the caring staff at St. John XXIII Home and Hospice of the Valley for their exceptional care.

Memorial contributions, as suggested by the family, may be made to St. John XXIII Home, 2250 Shenango Valley Freeway, Hermitage, PA 16148; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017 , in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017 , in the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage.  Everyone is asked to go directly to the church.

Entombment: St. Rose Cemetery Mausoleum, Hermitage, with military honors.